7 Great Health Documentaries to Watch ...

Starting with one of my favorite health documentaries, a nutritional scientist and a top surgeon explore the theory that most (if not all) of the degenerative diseases we are faced with as a society can be controlled, or even reversed, by stopping our consumption of animal-based and processed foods. They remind us that despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, we are sicker than ever! In the film, cameras follow “reality patients” suffering from chronic conditions ranging from heart disease to diabetes. Doctors teach these patients how to adopt a whole foods plant-based diet as the primary approach to treat their ailments.

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner exposes how a number of large corporations put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers, and the environment. The documentary shows how the United States' food supply has fallen into the hands of executives that push for creating "perfect" foods which have caused severe consequences, including new strains of E. coli and an increased amount of diabetes cases among adults. This was one documentary that really left a lasting impression on me because it takes you inside a factory farm and shows you exactly how your food is produced. Many people say that this film made them become vegetarian, and I'm included in that!

Most of you have already heard of the documentary "Super Size Me" that made headlines back in 2004. The documentary follows celebrity documentarian Morgan Spurlock as he participates in a 30-day experiment in fast-food eating. On top of this, if he is asked by the clerk if he would like the meal "super sized," he has to say yes. The film shows how eating McDonald’s morning, noon and night causes him numerous health problems at an alarmingly immediate rate. It inevitably led to McDonald's discontinuing their "super size" option as well as adding healthier items to the menu. It's definitely an eye opener for anyone who eats fast food too often.

In this documentary, medical journalist Michael Mosley explores the reasons behind the fact that every year, millions of people try to lose weight, and most fail. The film investigates the latest scientific breakthroughs in weight loss and uncovers ten of the simplest ways you can shed those pounds! From the slimming secrets of soup to what happens to our bodies after skipping meals, what you will learn from watching this film may completely change the way you think about diets, health and losing weight for good!

One of the most common causes of anorexia and bulimia in women is the media's impact of what women "should" look like. Jean Kilbourne has helped develop and popularize the study of gender representation in advertising. In this documentary, Kilbourne reviews if and how the image of women in advertising has changed over the last 20 years. Over 160 ads and TV commercials are critiqued to understand advertising's image of women. Kilbourne invites viewers to look at familiar images in a new way, which will hopefully help women to feel better about their bodies and prevent diseases such as anorexia and bulimia.

If you've ever wondered if the whole juicing "fad" is for real, try watching the heath documentary "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead." This documentary follows Joe Cross, who is 100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease. With no other options left, Joe tries to explore the body's ability to heal itself. So he hits the road with only a juicer and vows to only drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. This documentary will definitely make you feel like you should own a juicer after you finish!

One of the newer health documentaries, "Hungry for Change" has a huge portion of its film dedicated to an anti-sugar approach. They explain that excess calorie consumption from sugar-laden processed foods is largely responsible for obesity and diseases today. The documentary also puts emphasis on the power of juicing, cutting out processed foods, and the fact that you need to make a lifestyle change rather than practicing a temporary diet to truly be healthy.

Sometimes, it's not enough to hear someone tell you how to improve your health. Sometimes, you need to see to believe. That's where these health documentaries come in handy! Taking the time to learn something new about your health and well-being will only have a positive impact in your life. Have you ever heard or watched something that changed your whole outlook on health?